Houston rollergirls ready for bang-up derby opener

Rollergirl has Killa instinctEar-splitting Sirens are ready for a bang-up of a derby opener

LANA BERKOWITZ, Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle |
April 6, 2006

Houston Roller Derby hits the flat track Sunday chasing the heels of Austin's LoneStar Rollergirls, the queens of the roller-derby renaissance and stars of A&E's Rollergirls.

The Austin league, which was formed in 2001, has helped its baby sisters get started with boot camps and advice.

"They are much more experienced than us," said Mistilla the Killa, captain of Houston's Psych Ward Sirens. "They are basically the ones who have created the Southern region buzz that started all the Texas teams and the Louisiana teams."

HRD, which formed in March 2005, took a team to the Dust Devil National Flat Track Derby Tournament held in February. The Texas Rollergirls from Austin won the 20-team tournament held in Tucson, Ariz.; HRD placed 13th.

"Two of the teams in our bracket came in fourth and fifth," Mistilla said. "So I have to say we did pretty damn good."

Houston's teams are filled with a variety of women: businesswomen, single and married moms, CPAs, a trial attorney, retail workers, bartenders.

"It's obviously about extremely strong, independent, determined women who are drawn together with one love, and that's to dominate a sport on wheels," Mistilla said. "It started off maybe as more of a socializing sport, and it's definitely turned into a competing league.

"When we started a year and a half ago, some of the girls hadn't been on skates for 15 years," she said. Many were using rental skates until they made a commitment to HRD.

"This is not a social sport. We're here to be athletes, and there's a time investment," Mistilla said. In addition to practicing three times a week, the skaters are spending their own money on uniforms, equipment and the practice facility until they get full sponsorship.

"Even though we're divided into four teams, we still share important information because ultimately we're all on the same playing field," Mistilla said. "We're still learning. We all have a long way to go."